Apparatus and method for transmitting a signal at less than a standard transmit power in a network

• US 20060063498A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/02 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter.

Claims

1. A method of operating a transmitter that is connected to a communication link, the communication link operating in accordance with a communication standard that defines a standard transmit power, comprising:

determining when a current power requirement of the communication link is less than the standard transmit power, the current power requirement determined by a current operation condition of the communication link; and

setting a transmit power of the transmitter to be less than the standard transmit power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes detecting a length of the communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes detecting an attenuation characteristic of the communication link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes detecting an environmental condition of the communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes detecting a speed of transmission associated with the communication standard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes detecting a 1000 base-T protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting step includes reducing a current drawn by the transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein reducing the current includes changing a class of operation of the transmitter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein reducing the current includes coupling diode-connected transistors in parallel in a current mirror of the transistor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting step includes reducing a center tap voltage of the transmitter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting step includes setting the transmit power at approximately fifty percent of the standard transmit power.

13. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the current operating condition is based on a length of the communication link.

14. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the current operating condition is based on an attenuation characteristic of the communication link.

15. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the current operating condition is based on an environmental condition of the communication link.

16. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the current operating condition is based on a speed of transmission associated with the communication standard.

17. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the current operating condition is based on a 1000 base-T protocol.

18. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the means for setting the transmit power reduces a current drawn by the transmitter.

19. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein the means for setting the transmit power changes a class of operation of the transmitter.

20. The transmitter of claim 18, wherein the means for setting the transmit power couples diode-connected transistors in parallel in a current mirror of the transistor.

21. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the means for setting the transmit power reduces a center tap voltage of the transmitter.

22. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein the means for setting the transmit power sets the transmit power at approximately fifty percent of the standard transmit power.

12. A transmitter configured to operate in accordance with a communication standard that defines a standard transmit power, comprising:

a detection circuit to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power, the current power requirement determined by a current operation condition of the communication link; and

means for setting a transmit power of the transmitter to be less than the standard transmit power.